MASTERPROEF ONDERWERPEN FYSISCHE GEOGRAFIE Promotor: Dr. Amaury Frankl

VAKGROEP GEOGRAFIE

ONDERZOEKSGROEP FYSISCHE GEOGRAFIE

AJ 2016-2017

FILOSOFIE

Masterproef onderwerpen worden gekoppeld aan lopend

internationaal onderzoek en zijn voornamelijk gebaseerd op

veldwerk en de analyse van zelf verzamelde gegevens

Twee onderzoeksgebieden komen aan bod: Noord-

Frankrijk en Zwitserland

Aangewezen om geen tweede zittijd te hebben voor het

praktisch uitvoeren van veldwerk tijdens de zomer (must

voor Zwitserland)

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NOORD FRANKRIJK

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WAAR?

Aa vallei ten

westen van Saint Omer

THESISONDERWERPEN – NOORD-FRANKRIJK

1. Understanding runoff and sediment yield dynamics

from environmental modelling

2. The effect of soil erosion on soil profiles and their

development

3. Hydrological and geomorphological efficiency of

vegetation barriers

1. UNDERSTANDING RUNOFF AND SEDIMENT YIELD DYNAMICS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING

Field data on the impact of management practices on

erosion rates in small agricultural areas are scarce for many

parts of the world

With the recent instrumentation of such catchments for

monitoring rainfall, runoff and erosion, the interrelationships

between natural processes, human interactions and future

climate projection can be thoroughly analysed.

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Promoter: Dr. Amaury Frankl

Co-promoter: Prof.. Olivier Cerdan (BRGM, Orleans, France)

Instrumentation of small agricultural

catchments allow to monitor in detail

runoff and erosion

RESEARCH SETUP

The aim of this research is to understand the effect of agricultural

land management on runoff and erosion dynamics in 20-150 ha

large catchments

The field data will be used to calibrate and validate modelling

approaches (new WATERSED model will be used, BRGM)

Monitoring instrumentation will be handled by the student in the

field and temporal variations on catchment characteristics will be

mapped

The model will be used to assess the impact of possible climate

change scenarios on runoff and sediment yields

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2. THE EFFECT OF SOIL EROSION ON SOIL PROFILES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT (FRANCE)

Considerably high soil erosion rates have been reported

for northern France, especially by ephemeral gully

erosion

As a result, valleys are incising and soil is exported out

of agricultural catchments (causing high sediment

concentrations in the Aa river)

Rendosols, Calcisols, Brunisols as dominant soil types

Promoter: Dr. Amaury Frankl

Co-promoter: Dr. Stefaan Dondeyne (KU Leuven)

REEDS INGENOMEN

Geological map of France

Gullies incise valleys … while deposition occurs in other places

Pedological map of France

REEDS INGENOMEN

RESEARCH SETUP

The aim of this research is to understand the impact of

farming and decadal soil erosion and deposition on soil

profile development and soil typology

Therefore, a fieldwork based soil map will be produced and

compared to existing soil maps of the 1950s-1970s

The outcome will allow to understand the impact of farming

and soil erosion on soil development in northern France, for

which a case study will be done around Quelmes

REEDS INGENOMEN

3. HYDROLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY OF VEGETATION BARRIERS (THE CASE OF THE AA VALLEY)

Vegetation barriers (fascines) have been promoted in many

regions to tackle ephemeral gully erosion and decrease

sediment export from agricultural catchments

Experimental work shows promising hydrological functioning

Recent field data do not indicate a strong positive effect of

the fascines on erosion and sedimentation

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Promoter: Dr. Amaury Frankl

Co-promoter: Prof. Pierre-Gil Salvador (U. Lille I)

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RESEARCH SETUP

To assess the hydrological efficiency of fascines

To assess the sediment trapping efficiency of fascines

and understand the geomorphological efficiency from

fascine characteristics

To link this to catchments characteristics (land cover,

soil, topography)

To understand the effect of fascines on ephemeral

gully erosion dynamics

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ZWITSERLAND

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KADEREND BINNEN DOCTORAATSONDERZOEK HANNE HENDRICKX

THESISONDERWERPEN - ZWITSERSE ALPEN

1. Understanding the frequency and magnitude of debris

flows on Alpine talus slopes

2. Linking permafrost distribution in talus slopes with

surface geomorphology using geophysical methods and

detailed geomorphological mapping

Promoter: Dr. Amaury Frankl

Co-promoter: Prof. Reynald Delaloye (U. Fribourg,

Switzerland)

1. UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY AND MAGNITUDE OF DEBRIS FLOWS ON ALPINE TALUS SLOPES

Multiple study areas in the Valais, Swiss Alps

Min. 1 month of fieldwork in summer of 2017

Involves:

Detecting debris flow deposits from remote sensing (aerial

photographs, Google Earth) with field validation.

Historical analyses of debris flow events using aerial

photographs resulting in relative dating of the deposits

Understanding return periods of these events, linking with

controlling factors (geology, climate, …)

Col Du Sanetsch

1. UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY AND MAGNITUDE OF DEBRIS FLOWS ON ALPINE TALUS SLOPES

FIELDWORK

Field validation of the mapped debris

flow deposits from remote sensing

data.

Vegetation dynamics as additional

indicator for geomorphological activity

and age of the deposits

STUDY AREA

Multiple areas with different

geology. Examples:

Col Du Sanetsch

46°20’55’’N; 7°17’57’’E, 2300 m a.s.l.)

Les alpages d’Eison

(46°08’58’’N; 7°30’30’’ E, 2500 m a.s.l.)

Les alpage d’Eison

1. UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY AND MAGNITUDE OF DEBRIS FLOWS ON ALPINE TALUS SLOPES

2. LINKING PERMAFROST DISTRIBUTION IN TALUS SLOPES WITH SURFACE GEOMORPHOLOGY USING GEOPHYSICAL METHODS AND DETAILED GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING

• Study area in the Valais, Swiss Alps

• Min. 1 month of fieldwork in August-September of 2017

• Involves:

• 1 week intensive course in

geophysical methods at Fribourg University

• Using Electrical Resitivity Tomography (ERT) to detect permafrost in talus slopes

• Linking permafrost distribution with surface geomorphology

2. LINKING PERMAFROST DISTRIBUTION IN TALUS SLOPES WITH SURFACE GEOMORPHOLOGY USING GEOPHYSICAL METHODS AND DETAILED GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING

FIELDWORK

Using Electrical Resistivity

Tomography device to detect

permafrost

Conducting a detailed

geomorphological mapping to link

permafrost distribution to surface

geomorphology (rock glaciers, slope

gradient, …)

2. LINKING PERMAFROST DISTRIBUTION IN TALUS SLOPES WITH SURFACE GEOMORPHOLOGY USING GEOPHYSICAL METHODS AND DETAILED GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING

STUDY AREA

• Col Du Sanetsch

46°20’55’’N; 7°17’57’’E, 2300 m a.s.l.)

Other study areas to be discussed

PROFILE STUDENT

Motivated and independent

Good physical conditions, hiking experience

in mountain environment is a plus

No re-examination

Thesis will be written in English

Knowledge of French is a plus

Driving license is a plus

FIELDWORK CONDITIONS

Working parallel with Drs. Hanne Hendrickx

Long hikes at elevation between 2000 and 3000 m

Accommodation in tents

But also stunning views and beautiful nature